An air spade is an air excavation tool used by arborists, foresters, and utilities. Read about how the city of Sitka, Alaska uses the tool to successfully transplant their precious urban infrastructure: trees. Blog submitted by Patricia Joyner.

Today is Texas Arbor Day, and it's during the best time of year to plant trees across Texas.

The first Texas Arbor Day was observed in 1889, celebrating the benefits that trees provide over a lifetime. To plant trees this weekend, Texans should select trees that are well-suited to a site. The mature size of a tree should be considered. Bear in mind that while you may plant a tree on your property, years later, it may affect neighboring property, sidewalks or streets.

While rainstorms can rejuvenate a forest, they can also transform an urban road into a highway for pollutants.

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation lands on surfaces like parking lots or other areas that can’t absorb it. When the water drains into nearby streams and rivers, it carries with it dirt and nutrients such as phosphorous.

The threat of the Emerald Ash Borer is forcing cities across Iowa to start taking inventory of its trees, and Des Moines now has the green light to do so. The inventory would identify hazardous trees, along with healthy trees in need of simple pruning.

Earlier this week the city council voted to send tree crews out next spring to identify and assess all trees located along streets and in the mowed areas of city parks. It will be an “active inventory” that can be continuously updated, and Councilman Skip Moore, who is an arborist, says it will save the city money in the long run.

For the first time in more than a decade, Bloomington, Indiana has increased the amount of green space in the city.

Green space is defined as the total acreage covered by trees, grass and other vegetation, according to the city’s Environmental Commission. Green space must also be greater than one acre and more than 10 feet from any man-made development such as roads, parking lots and buildings.

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The Service Mark for the National Association of State Foresters has been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as of April 11, 2000. The Service Mark and the name ‘National Association of State Foresters’ are registered at Reg. No. 2,340,477. Reproduction or use of the NASF logo without permission is prohibited. Photographs for the site came from many different sources. This institution is an equal-opportunity employer. This website is made possible through a grant from the USDA Forest Service.